FortisBC announced a new rebate on Tuesday for homeowners who replace older gas heating systems with energy-efficient electric heat pumps and high-efficiency gas furnaces.
“The new rebate helps make this system more affordable for customers and combines the strengths of both energy systems to meet their heating and cooling needs,” Joe Mazza, vice president of energy supply and resource development at FortisBC, said in a statement.
FortisBC is the main natural gas utility in the province, and also directly provides electricity and related utilities to a section of B.C.’s southern Interior.
The rebate announced Tuesday will provide eligible homeowners with upwards of $10,000 if they make the switch to a heat pump and furnace system, which will provide heating during winters and cooling during summers.
What systems are eligible
Homeowners who replace old systems with a qualifying energy-efficient dual fuel system are eligible for the rebate.
The new dual system must include an electric heat pump and a high-efficiency gas furnace. Both must be controlled by a thermostat that switches between the heat pump and furnace depending on the temperature — lowering overall energy consumption, according to the statement.
The furnace being replaced must be at least 10 years old and also serve as the primary space heating system for the home.
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The B.C. Hydro lookup page is the best way to look for qualifying dual fuel systems that meet efficiency standards, according to FortisBC.
Customers can either search by AHRI number — typically provided by a contractor — or by system type and manufacturer. The page will then show heat pump, indoor unit and furnace options.
To get the rebate, eligible heat pumps and gas furnaces must be installed by a contractor licensed by Technical Safety B.C.
Rebate amounts
The rebate starts at $10,000 and eligible customers can get more depending on their location and income.
FortisBC customers living in the City of Kelowna are eligible for up to $2,000 in top-ups.
Those in, or north of, 100 Mile House can qualify for a top-up of $3,000.
Low-income customers and Indigenous customers can also receive rebates of more than $15,000.
How to apply
The rebate application form must be submitted within six months of the invoice date, and include the following information:
- A FortisBC gas account number.
- An email address.
- Scanned copy of a paid invoice.
- Copy of the heat load calculation.
- Copy of the commissioning sheet, if requested.
- Photos of the two-pipe direct vent system, if requested.
The FortisBC website states that applications may take up to 90 days to process.
New pilot project
FortisBC has been conducting a pilot project to evaluate dual fuel systems across the province, in an effort to learn more about energy savings in different climates.
Under prime conditions, FortisBC says dual fuel systems can operate at greater than 100 per cent energy efficiency.
This is possible because heat pump systems don’t need to convert energy. They simply transfer heat from one area to another — meaning users get more heat out than energy they put in.
FortisBC says the systems not only help lower greenhouse gas emissions, but also meets the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 criteria for space and water heating systems.